Bucket coffee table by Melbourne design studio Coco Flip.  Photo - Hadyn Cattach, styling - Rebecca Vitartas.

Bucket coffee table by Melbourne design studio Coco Flip.  Photo - Hadyn Cattach.

Bucket coffee table by Melbourne design studio Coco Flip.  Photo - Hadyn Cattach.

We've featured clever Melbourne designer Kate Stokes of Coco Flip before - based from a studio in Collingwood, Kate creates a beautiful range of lighting and furniture.  She's picked up an impressive swag of grants and awards since launching her practice in 2010, and I must say, it's pretty cool to think she's done all this primarily as a one woman operation!  Go Kate!

We particularly love Kate's lighting designs, which have drawn both local and international media coverage in the past few years.  You might recall seeing her beautiful Coco pendants featured in our first Open House event in 2011 - they’ve won many hearts since then!

The most recent additions to the Coco Flip family are two entirely new creations - the 'Bucket' coffee table, pictured above, and the friendly little 'Puku' ottomans below!  Like all Kate’s work, these new pieces each rely on the skill of Melbourne-based makers and manufacturers.

‘I always start the design process with pen and paper, and then I move into three dimensions with sketch models using card, balsa, paper etc’ says Kate. ‘At this early stage I try to get a clear understanding of the materials I’m working with, and I start to reach out to local manufacturers specialising in those materials and processes, so I can learn as much as possible from experts’ she says.

The Bucket coffee table uses three separate local manufacturers, and three different processes. The top is cast from a concrete composite made from recycled fly-ash (a by-product of coal mining) and resin. ‘It’s much lighter than standard concrete, and very durable’ says Kate.  The frame is delicately brazed solid brass tube, and the central storage ‘bucket’ is cut from brass sheet, folded and soldered. ‘As each component is made in a different place, they need to be incredibly accurate so it all fits together’ Kate explains.

Also made in Melbourne, The Puku ottomans were initially inspired by Kate's travels to Japan last year. 'I love the way Japanese design so often uses anthropomorphism, giving human form or other characteristics to inanimate objects' says Kate. 'I also love Miyazaki films! I wanted to try and give this product a real character – cute, friendly, and a bit chubby and slow, but loveable.'  She totally nailed this I reckon!  These are such friendly little pieces - perfect additional seating for a relaxed living area or kids’ space.

The Puku ottomans are priced at $695, and the Bucket coffee table $2,450.  All enquiries - contact Coco Flip.

New Puka ottomans by Coco Flip.  Photo - Hadyn Cattach.